Health Notices

What to Look For
Symptoms typically begin 1 to 4 days after exposure and last about 4 to 10 days. 

• Fever and/or chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Fatigue or tiredness

Keep children home if they have a fever (100.4°F or higher).
Children may return to school once they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and are feeling well enough to participate in learning activities.
 

Be mindful of symptoms, even without a fever.
Colds and flu spread through airborne droplets and hand contact. Young children may not always be able to manage secretions properly, which can increase the risk of spreading illness. If your child has a particularly wet, persistent cough or a very runny nose, it may be best to keep them home—even if they don’t have a fever.
 

Teach and encourage good hygiene habits.
Please remind your child to wash their hands thoroughly after using the restroom, blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing, and before eating. At school, we are reinforcing these habits and have tissues and handwashing supplies readily available in all classrooms.

 

What is Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)?

HFMD is a contagious illness caused by several different viruses. It commonly affects infants and young children under the age of 5, especially in group settings like schools. It spreads through:

• Close contact with nasal mucus, saliva, blister fluid, or stool
• Respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking
• Touching contaminated surfaces (e.g., doorknobs, desks) and then touching the mouth

What District 67 is Doing:

• Monitoring students for signs and symptoms of HFMD
• Deep cleaning affected classrooms and common areas
• Encouraging regular handwashing and hygiene practices

If you have concerns, contact your child’s healthcare provider.

Symptoms of HFMD:

Symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 days after exposure and typically last seven to ten days.
Please keep your child home and contact the school nurse if they show any of the following:

• Fever
• Flu-like symptoms (sore throat, fatigue, decreased appetite)
• Mouth sores
• Skin rash (may include small blisters on the palms, soles, or buttocks)

When Can My Child Return to School?

Your child may return when they meet all of the following criteria:

• They are feeling well enough to participate in normal school activities.
• They have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
• They are able to eat and drink comfortably without excessive drooling or mouth pain.
• Any open sores are healing and can be safely covered.

If You or Your Child Has HFMD:

• Do not scratch blisters; keep fingernails trimmed.
• Keep affected areas clean and monitor for signs of infection.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching blisters, then touching your face or others.
• Disinfect shared surfaces using household cleaners labeled as effective against viruses, or a diluted bleach solution (following manufacturer guidelines).
• Do not prepare food for others if you have diarrhea.
• Do not share food, drinks, or utensils.
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid close contact (e.g., hugging, kissing) with others.

How to Prevent HFMD:

• Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and items that are touched often.

• Monitor your child for symptoms for up to a week after potential exposure.}

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our school community healthy. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school nurse or your healthcare provider.

About Head Lice
While head lice are not dangerous and do not spread disease, they can be uncomfortable and disruptive, especially for young children.

Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp and lay eggs (called “nits”) on hair strands. They are often spread through direct head-to-head contact, but can also spread by sharing personal items such as hats, hair ties, or combs.

Steps We Are Taking to Mitigate Further Cases

• Monitoring cases throughout the school
• Deep cleaning of impacted classrooms, including carpets and rugs
• Dress-up clothes, hats, and other shared items will not be available
• Use of soft surfaces like pillows and soft seating will be minimized during the school day

What to Watch For
Symptoms may appear up to a week after exposure and can include:

• Itching or scratching of the scalp

• A tickling sensation or feeling of movement in the hair

• Trouble sleeping (lice are more active at night)

• Crankiness or discomfort

What to Do if Your Child Has Lice

• Notify the school nurse.

• Begin treatment promptly using lice-removal shampoo, following product instructions carefully.

• Use a special fine-toothed comb to remove nits every 2–3 days for at least two weeks.

• Check all household members regularly for signs of lice.

• Wash bedding, clothing, and personal items in hot water and dry on high heat.

• Soak combs and brushes in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5–10 minutes.

• Avoid head-to-head contact and sharing hats, hair accessories, and personal items.

Prevention Tips

• Talk to your child about not sharing combs, brushes, hats, or headphones.

• Regularly check your child’s scalp for signs of lice or nits.

• Learn more about the prevention and treatment of head lice here.

Information About Chickenpox (Acute, Viral Infection)

• Incubation period (the time between exposure to the disease and the appearance of symptoms): 10 – 21 days; commonly 14 – 16 days.

• Contagious period (when the disease can be transmitted to another person):

  • Usually 1 – 2 days before the rash appears, and continuing until all lesions are crusted over (usually about 5 days)

• Signs and symptoms: low-grade fever, irritability, tiredness, and lack of appetite 1 – 2 days before the appearance of a rash. The rash consists of small fluid-filled blisters usually appearing first on the scalp, face, or back, then spreading out to the arms and legs. The rash can be extremely itchy. The blisters break easily and form a scab. The fluid in the blisters is highly contagious.

• Treatment: for most, only supportive care is needed. Contact your doctor if you suspect your child has chickenpox. DO NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD ASPIRIN OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING ASPIRIN (a Salicylate). This can lead to the development of another disease called REYE’S SYNDROME. Encourage your child not to scratch or rub the blisters, for this can lead to a secondary infection.

• How this disease is spread: This virus is spread by direct contact with an infected person and occasionally by airborne nose and throat secretions. It can be spread by direct contact with articles contaminated with the fluid from the blisters or tissues with respiratory secretions.

• Control of cases: Children are to be excluded from school for not less than 5 days after the appearance of the rash. All blisters must have scabbed over and dry before returning to school.

• General prevention measures: Good hand washing, avoiding those with cough, and not sharing of eating/drinking utensils, clothing, or tissues. Anyone who is not fully vaccinated and never had chickenpox should receive one or two doses of the chickenpox vaccine. The timing of these doses depends on the person’s age. Ask your provider. Most people who get the chickenpox vaccine will not get chickenpox. But if someone who has been vaccinated does get chickenpox, it is usually very mild. Typically, they have less blisters, are less likely to have a fever, and recover faster. Persons at risk for complications due to chickenpox include pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, and newborn babies.

Further information can be found here:

• https://www.lakecountyil.gov/841/Chickenpox

• https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/index.html